Current Average Processing Times*

Document-by-Document (DxD)

3 days or less

Course-by-Course (CxC)

8 days or less

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA for IRCC Canada)

6 days or less

*Processing times may vary. Processing starts once all documents have been received, reviewed, and accepted by WES and payment has been made in full.

About the WES Gateway Program

The WES Gateway Program assesses the educational credentials of individuals who have been displaced as a result of adverse circumstances in their country and have limited proof of academic achievements.

A WES Gateway Program credential evaluation report can help eligible individuals continue their education, become licensed in their field, or take the next step on their career pathway in Canada. The report can be accepted by higher education institutions, regulatory bodies, and employers.

WES works with designated partners to identify individuals who are eligible for the Gateway Program. The program is available to individuals educated in Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Syria, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Venezuela, who meet program requirements.

To learn more about the program’s impact, read stories from individuals who have used a WES Gateway Program credential evaluation report to pursue their academic and professional goals. For more information and full program eligibility criteria, read our frequently asked questions.

How to Apply

To apply for the WES Gateway Program, eligible individuals need to be referred by a designated referral partner.

The WES Gateway Program is currently available to individuals who:

  • Possess at least one piece of credible evidence issued by their academic institution
  • Were educated in one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Syria, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Venezuela
  • Are referred to WES by a designated Canadian partner organization

For a list of referral partners, see below.

Note: Whenever possible, WES recommends that applicants use its standard evaluation process. If you are able to submit standard country-specific required documents, please start your application here.

Referral Organizations

WES works with partner organizations across Canada to refer clients to the WES Gateway Program.  Our designated partners are listed below.

Note: If you cannot find an organization in your region, please contact us (select “WES Gateway Program” as the question category).

Referral partners for the WES Gateway Program include:

These referring organizations confirm applicants’ eligibility, submit documents for evaluation, and provide additional information and resources to support program participants in achieving their professional and academic goals in Canada. WES will update this list as we add more referral organizations across the country.